The Potion Experiment
‘Ok, so working with this theory -’ Sirius was pacing, up and down the kitchen, as he had been since they'd arrived home from the graveyard, ‘- all we'd have to do is get the soul fragment out, and put it in the sword.’
‘Yes,’ Remus replied, for what felt like the hundredth time. Gryffindor’s sword lay in front of him on the table. They’d examined it, top to bottom, every diagnostic spell they could think of, but the sword had remained silent, still.
‘And then destroy the sword,’ Sirius continued, ‘But not before we use the sword to destroy the cup - but we don't think one Horcrux would willingly destroy another -’
‘There’s always fiendfyre,’ Remus said, ‘I’ve looked it up, We could definitely cast it. It's a nasty spell but is not difficult.’
‘Ok,’ Sirius said, still walking, ‘Get the soul fragment out, put it in the sword, fiendfyre them both -’
‘Yes,’ Remus said again, watching as Sirius reached the window and turned back towards the cellar door.
‘And then we find Voldemort, kill the snake, kill him.’
‘Yes,’ Remus said yet again.
‘Get the fragment out, put it in the sword, fiendfyre, snake, Voldemort.’
‘Yes.’
‘Ok, so we just need to get the soul fragment out, put it -’
‘Yes, Sirius, yes!’ Remus said loudly, ‘Please - stop it - please just - just sit down?’
Sirius stopped pacing and turned to look at him. He was biting his lip, hard as if it was all he could do to stop himself speaking. He inhaled shakily and Remus felt terrible.
‘How do we get it out?’
Remus rested his face in his hands, his head throbbing, elbows propped on the table. It was two in the morning, they'd been doing this for hours. He knew the answer to Sirius’ question, an answer at least. He was sure Sirius knew it too, really.
‘I don't know, Pads,’ he said, ‘Please, can we just go to bed - I really need - I can't think - I really think I'll be more useful in the morning.’
Sirius nodded at him, slowly, ‘OK,’ he said quietly, eyes finally meeting Remus’, ‘OK, go up, I'll be there soon.’
Remus climbed the stairs wearily, stopping in the bathroom on the first floor before continuing up to their room. He crawled into the bed, pulling the covers up over his shoulders. What a night. He thought. He wasn't at all sure about their plan, it all felt so - unlikely - but then so was everything, he supposed. Everything about this was ridiculous. Unthinkable. It had been for years. He rubbed his eyes. He hoped Sirius wouldn't be long.
When he awoke, sunlight was streaming through the window. He rolled over, searching for Sirius, finding his side of the bed empty. Unwrinkled. Not slept in. He closed his eyes for a moment more, trying to ignore the feeling of panic that had sat in his gut since their last meeting with Dumbledore, before heaving himself out of bed, pulling on a jumper and heading back down to the kitchen.
‘Oh Pads,’ he said as he pushed open the door, to find Sirius hunched over the end of the table, eyes closed, head cushioned by books. He made his way across the kitchen, shooting a spell towards the kettle on his way past and sat down beside him.
‘Sirius,’ he said gently, one hand moving through his tangled hair. It was longer now, the haircut Remus had given him in his bathroom at Hogwarts almost completely grown out, but still short by Sirius’ standards. He moved the hand down to his cheek, rough with days of stubble, ‘Hey, Pads, wake up.’
Sirius shifted slightly under his hand, but kept his eyes firmly closed.
‘Hey,’ Remus said again, ‘Come on, honey, wake up.’
Sirius opened his eyes slowly, and smiled.
‘Honey?’ he whispered.
‘No, you’re right,’ Remus murmured, ‘Sounds weird.’
‘That’s not what I said.’
‘You never came up.’ Remus said, moving his hand through Sirius’ hair again and resting it on the back of his neck.
‘Sorry,’ Sirius said, ‘I had to work it out, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep.’
‘You found something?’ Remus asked, tugging gently at the book Sirius was still leaning on and pulling it towards him.
‘Maybe,’ Sirius said, ‘Yes. But - it's not good - it's not, I don’t like it. You won’t like it.’
Remus looked down at the book. It was Regulus’ copy of Moste Potente Potions, the one he had found in the cellar months before. It was open to the same page it had been all those months ago - ‘Drink of Despair?’ he read.
‘Other side,’ Sirius tapped the book, ‘Draught of Living Death.’
‘A sleeping potion?’ Remus said.
‘Not this one - look -’ Sirius ran his finger down the list of ingredients, ‘Remember? The death cap? Deadly - but see here,’ he pointed to the scribbles inked down the margin of the page, no longer in code, ‘This is Reggie playing with the dosage -’
‘Sirius -’ Remus murmured, ‘We can’t poison him -’
Sirius said nothing, his eyes resting on the kettle, which had started to boil, rumbling gently on the hob.
‘Sirius,’ Remus said again, taking his hand.
‘We’ve got to get it out, Moons,’ Sirius replied, his voice hoarse, ‘We’ve got to. And this - if we can get the dosage right - plus an antidote - this could work.’
Remus looked at him. He looked exhausted and desperate but his grey eyes were bright and clear. He had thought it through.
We’d have to be sure the potion was right,’ Remus said, ‘Completely sure -’
‘We can test it,’ Sirius said.
‘Yeah, of course, but that wasn’t exactly what I meant.’
*
‘You have got to be joking.’
Snape made to turn away, but Aberforth stepped sideways, blocking his path.
‘Hear them out, Severus,’ he grunted, squaring his shoulders.
‘I’d expected better from you,’ Snape said, sneering at the barman, ‘I expect Albus will be interested to hear about this -’
‘Couldn’t give a flying -’
‘You might not be so keen to fill him in when you hear what we’ve got to say,’ Remus cut in mildly, gesturing to an empty chair. ‘Take a seat Severus, we need your help.’
‘And Merlin knows you owe us one,’ Sirius added, reaching beneath his cloak laying the Sword of Gryffindor down on the table in front of them.
-
‘Are you alright, Severus?’
Snape’s eyes moved suddenly from where they had been fixed on some indeterminable point over Remus’ shoulder to meet his own. They were shining slightly in the dim light of the pub, stark against his pale face.
‘Why should I believe you?’ he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.
‘Oh, you’re right,’ Sirius said, slapping his thighs dramatically, ‘You caught us! We’ve just spent the best part of a year running around like mad men, rising our lives, having Harry for the holidays, pretending to love him just so that we can trick you into killing him for us.’
Snape’s eyes did not move, remaining on Remus, and for a moment he thought he could feel his gaze like a burn.
‘It is difficult to hear,’ Remus said, quietly, ‘We know - the drip-feeding of information has been -’ he huffed, it had been unbearable. There was a good chance it had driven them both out of their minds. He shook his head, trying to get his thoughts to make sense. ‘Albus’ goal has always been to destroy Voldemort. He is willing to pay any price. We aren’t. And I don't think you are either.’
Remus hesitated, watching Snape intently. He could feel Sirius fidgeting next to him, bouncing his knee anxiously.
‘Why did you do it? Why did you agree to be a spy?’ Remus asked him, unblinking, ‘What was in it for you?’
Snape’s eyes slid away from him again.
‘He’s Lily’s boy,’ Remus whispered, ‘Help us help him.’
‘Show me this book.’
Sirius pulled it from his bag, letting it fall open at the relevant page. Snape leant forward, examining the instructions closely, running his finger down the list of ingredients.
‘We’ve brought most of the ingredients with us,’ Sirius said, reaching back into his bag for the bottles they had bought to set up Regulus’ lab. He looked expectantly across the table at Snape, who didn’t answer. Remus reached for him, squeezing his elbow.
‘These are Regulus’ notes?’ Snape asked, glancing up, his finger stopping on an inky scribble halfway down the page. Sirius nodded.
‘These are -’ Snape paused, ‘These are clever ideas.’
‘You think they’ll work?’
Snape ignored him again, continuing to read carefully, eyes moving back and forth across the page, pausing when they reached something handwritten, trying to make it out. They watched him anxiously, Remus glancing periodically at Sirius who had not taken his eyes off Snape. Suddenly he rose, robes billowing as he crossed the room and peered out of the window, up at the castle.
‘I can brew it,’ he said quietly, ‘But I will need some supplies -’
‘No,’ Sirius said quickly, ‘You can do it here, we can bring the things here -’
‘I will need some supplies,’ Snape repeated, slowly, ‘From my office. It will not take long.’
‘How do we know you won’t go running to Dumbledore?’
‘You think he would disapprove of the plan?’ Snape turned to look at them, ‘You just told me the result will be the same, in the end -’
‘Just be quick,’ Remus said, ‘Please.’
Snape nodded once, heading towards the Floo.
‘I will return shortly. You find the boy.’
*
‘Harry! Harry!’
‘He’s probably in a lesson. It might be up in his room,’ Remus said, as they sat, hunched over their mirror, still in the back room of the pub, waiting for Snape to return.
‘Harry, Harry, Harry!’ Sirius said again, impatiently.
‘Will you shut up!’ Harry’s voice whispered through the mirror, only his jumper in view, ‘I’m in Charms. I’ll call you -’
‘Soon as you can,’ Sirius hissed back, and they were met by a thumbs up, before the mirror went dark.
‘How are we going to get him out of there?’ Remus asked, ‘And what are we actually going to say?’
‘He took the whole fighting Voldemort thing pretty well,’ Sirius said - ‘Maybe -’
They were interrupted by Severus, appearing back through the Floor with a wooden box tucked neatly under his arm. He waved his wand once, sending most of the tables neatly to the walls of the room, and then again, lighting a fire in the centre of the space he had cleared.
‘Right,’ he said, opening the box and pulling out a miniature cauldron which he placed atop the fire, leaving it to expand slowly to full size. ‘I have everything -’
‘Let me see,’ Sirius said, pushing his way past Remus to inspect the ingredients as Snape gifted them from the box. ‘Is this -’
‘I can assure you, Black, that I know what I am doing,’ Snape snapped coldly, ‘Lupin, if you could control your dog it would really help me not accidentally brew a poison.’
‘I need to watch you to make sure you don’t do that on purpose!’ Sirius bit back.
‘If you don’t trust me then why -’
‘Sirius, come on,’ Remus said, pulling a chair out a few feet from the cauldron, ‘We need him to do this, neither of us have got the expertise required. Just - let’s just sit here and wait for Harry.’
They watched Snape as he worked. He had brought a book of his own, also covered with annotations, and it lay open on the table beside Regulus’. He kept looking from one to the other, comparing the instructions between deft chopping and slicing, measuring each ingredient with fanatical exactness. Remus, who had always found potions too dainty and passionless for his type of magic, was impressed by the patience and the precision. While he worked, they talked, round and round in circles about what to do once the potion was ready. Once the ingredients were in, Snape paused for a moment by the fire, training it gently with his wand, before rising again and beginning to stir the potion.
‘Sirius?’
Harry’s voice called from the mirror and Snape looked up, momentarily narrowing his eyes before turning back to his work.
‘Yes, Harry, we’re here,’ Sirius answered, holding the mirror up to the light, ‘Listen -’
‘You can’t call me in lessons,’ Harry said, ‘You were lucky it was Charms and everyone was doing practical work. If it had been Snape -’
‘Actually Harry, this is quite urgent,’ Remus cut in, glancing nervously over his shoulder at Severus, who was studiously stirring the potion, ‘Listen - can you -’
‘We need you to sneak down to Hogsmeade,’ Sirius said quickly, ‘Tonight. Now if you can manage it.’
‘Why?’ Harry asked, ‘What’s happened?’
‘It’s -’ Sirius hesitated, looking to Remus for help, ‘Just please, Harry. We’ll explain when you get here. Can you use the passage?’
‘You’ve got the map,’ Harry said, ‘And Professor Dumbledore’s got my cloak. I’ll never get there without either of them.’
Remus glanced over his shoulder again. Snape continued to stir the potion deliberately, as if he was counting the strokes, not appearing to have heard any of their conversation. He turned back to Harry who was staring out at them, wide eyes full of confusion.
‘We can look at the map for you, from here,’ he said, ‘If you’re quick and you go now, you can get there while everyone is at dinner, and then we can meet you at the other end.’
‘Where are you?’
‘Hog’s Head,’ Sirius replied, ‘Grab your cloak, it’s cold.’
‘Ron and Hermione -’
‘Leave a note,’ Remus suggested, ‘Just say you’re alright.’
They watched as Harry rummaged in his trunk, the mirror propped at the end of his bed, and then went dark as he put them in his pocket. Remus pulled the map from his satchel, tapping it lightly with the tip of his wand and watching as the ink lines flowed from the point he had touched. He folded it over, fingers tracing the corridors -
‘There!’
Sirius had spotted him, leaving the Gryffindor common room and hurrying down the nearest staircase.
‘It won’t take him long, she’s only on the third floor,’ Sirius murmured, bent over the map, ‘Look - there -’
‘Harry!’ Remus said sharply into the mirror, ‘Broom cupboard on your left.’
They watched as Harry’s name darted sideways, and then his face appeared in the mirror, shadowy in the darkness of the cupboard.
‘What?’ he whispered.
‘Slughorn,’ Sirius hissed back, ‘Give him a minute, he doesn't exactly move fast.’
They waited, watching the miniscule name as it passed Harry’s, disappearing down the corridor.
‘Ok, go.’
Harry shoved them back in his pocket, darting out from his hiding place towards the statue of the one-eyed witch, his name still for a moment, before it appeared on the other side of the wall, moving away from the castle.
‘Ok,’ he said, reappearing at the mirror, ‘I’m on my way.’
‘See you soon.’
‘OK,’ Remus said, turning back to Severus, ‘We’ve got about an hour.’
‘The potion is ready,’ Snape replied, eyeing the map that Sirius was now folding back into his pocket.
‘An hour to test it then,’ Sirius said.
‘Are you volunteering, Black?’
‘No he’s not,’ Remus said, just as Sirius answered, ‘Of course.’
‘Who else are we going to test it on?’ Sirius asked, turning back to him with a look of confusion.
Remus faltered, ‘Can’t we - can’t we just use - I don’t know, a mouse or something?’
‘Animal experiments rarely fully replicate results in human trials,’ Snape said.
Remus floundered. ‘Me then, I’ll do it. Harry needs you -’
‘Animal experiments rarely fully replicate results in human trials,’ Snape repeated, quietly.
Remus looked up suddenly as SIrius whipped around, snarling, ‘How dare you -’
‘Am I wrong?’ Snape asked, coolly, his eyes still on Remus, ‘Do you respond to potions the same way humans do?’
Remus said nothing, and SIrius turned back to him once more. ‘It’s alright Moony, come on. We know it’s going to work, anyway, so -’ he glanced nervously at Snape, ‘So there’s nothing to worry about.’
Sirius attempted a reassuring smile, but the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes. Remus tried to say something, but managed only a disjointed kind of nod.
‘OK,’ Sirius continued, pulling a vial from Snape’s box, ‘Dose me up.’
Severus took the vial delicately between his fingers, and filled it with liquid from his cauldron. The potion gleamed in the dull room, ghostly, green and almost glowing. Remus moved to stand beside Sirius as he sat up on one of the long tables, accepting the vial back and inspecting it carefully.
‘Here goes,’ he said, bringing it to his lips.
‘Wait -’ Remus gripped his wrist, ‘Just wait. Just in case -’
‘Come on now Moony,’ Sirius said, ‘It’s going to be just fine,’ and he tipped the potion down his throat.
The effect was almost instantaneous. Sirius’ eyes closed and he dropped the vial, the thin glass smashing on the stone floor. Remus caught him as he went limp, manoeuvring him backwards so that he was lying on the table. His face was deathly pale, his lips so white they seemed to disappear against the rest of his skin, his dark lashes stark against his cheeks. Remus gripped his hand, already cold, and felt for a pulse, gasping involuntarily as he struggled to find one.
Snape had moved to stand beside him, and was muttering spells, waving his wand lightly across Sirius’ chest.
‘He’s alive,’ Snape said, ‘But barely. It has worked. How long do you want to keep him under?’
‘I -’, Remus paused, he wanted to wake Sirius up right now, straight away, but they also needed to know how much time they might have. How long might it take a severed piece of soul to jump vessel? How were they supposed to know?
‘Do the effects of the potion intensify over time?’ he asked, trying to keep his voice steady, to not sob at the sight of Sirius, prone on the tabletop.
‘No,’ Snape replied, ‘They shouldn’t. The whole purpose of the potion is to render the drinker in a suspended state. He isn’t more asleep now than he would be in an hour.’
‘Ok, ok then, wake him up. Wake him now.’
Snape pulled a small bottle of purple liquid from his box, and removed the stopper.
‘Prop his head,’ he instructed, and Remus lifted Sirius’ head gently, tipping it back so that his mouth opened enough for Snape to pour the antidote down his throat.
‘Why isn’t it working?’
‘Because it takes more than one second,’ Snape snapped, turning back to the cauldron. ‘Wait.’
It took five whole minutes for Sirius to awaken, Remus standing, frozen at his head, holding his face between his hands. When Sirius’ eyelids finally fluttered open, Remus sobbed, gasping for air as if he had been holding his breath since the moment the antidote had touched Sirius’ lips. Sirius looked up at him for a moment, and blinked, reaching a hand up to rub his eye, and then further above his head to brush a tear from Remus' cheek.
‘It worked then,’ he croaked, staring up at Remus.
‘Of course it worked,’ Severus snapped from beside his cauldron, ‘The theatrics are entirely unnecessary.’
‘Hell of a headache though,’ Sirius added, pushing himself up onto his elbows, and shuffling his legs over the edge of the table. Remus moved to his side, gripping his hand as he sat up.
‘Here,’ Snape grunted, holding out another vial, ‘This will help.’
Sirius took it, holding Snape’s gaze for a second before knocking back the greyish liquid.
‘Disgusting,’ he said, smacking his lips, ‘Thanks.’
Snape nodded, turning back to the cauldron, syphoning the liquid from it into a series of small glass bottles.
‘Hadn’t you two go for the boy?’
They met Harry at the door of Honeydukes, unlocking it for him from the outside when his face appeared in the window, and hurrying him down an alleyway, circling back towards The Hog’s Head. He seemed to sense the urgency of the situation, following them silently as they stole down cobbled streets, hoods up against the chill of the Spring evening. Sirius tapped Harry once on the head as they reached the door of the inn, sending a disillusionment charm trickling over his shoulders and bundling him straight up the stairs and through the door of the function room. They pulled their cloaks off, Harry looking around them and faltering as his eyes fell on Snape.
‘What’s going on?’ he asked, as Remus locked the door behind them, casting a silencing spell across it.
‘Harry,’ Sirius said, voice steady, ‘Maybe you should sit down.’
*
‘But why didn’t he say?’ Harry asked, confusion in his green eyes.
‘I expect he would have done, eventually,’ Remus sighed. It had taken them half an hour or so to explain the plan to Harry, who predictably, he supposed, had taken the news better than they had expected. He'd been calm as they had talked him through the definition of a Horcrux, their hunt for them and Dumbledore's revelation about the soul fragment that lived within Harry himself.
‘Did he think I couldn't handle it?’
‘I don't think it was that at all,’ Remus replied, ‘I think he probably just hadn't quite worked out what to do about it.’
‘But you know? You know what to do?’
‘We know something we can try.’
Harry nodded, eyes on his hands, which fidgeted in his lap. He was silent for a moment, biting at the inside of his cheek.
‘I -’ he began, and faltered, not looking up. ‘I -’ he glanced at Snape, who had busied himself at the other end of the room the moment they had sat down to talk.
‘It’s alright Harry,’ Sirius said, ‘Go on.’
‘I don't want to die.’ He said in a small voice, and looking up, unblinkingly between them. ‘I wanted to - I thought - if we could defeat him - then I wouldn't have to live with the Dursleys anymore -’
Remus felt his stomach twist, the pain shooting into his chest. He glanced sideways at Sirius, who was holding Harry’s gaze.
‘That’s exactly what we’re going to do,’ Sirius said, sounding so sure, Remus found himself nodding along too.
Harry swallowed and nodded, chewing at his lip nervously now, ‘Ok then. Ok. Let's do it.’
Looking up, Remus realised Severus had been watching them, his face a mask. Their eyes met and Snape reacted swiftly, moving towards them, a glass bottle in his hand, holding it out so Harry could see the contents.
‘Have you checked it's ok?’ Harry whispered, eyeing the potion nervously.
Snape heard him, and rolled his eyes, ‘I assure you, Potter, if I was going to try and hurt you, I wouldn't choose to do it with these two lunatics as witnesses.’
‘Tested it myself,’ Sirius added, trying to sound reassuring.
Harry accepted the bottle and climbed onto the tabletop where Sirius had lain earlier that evening. Remus placed the sword alongside him, the rubies glinting in the gloom.
‘So I just… drink this?’
‘Yes,’ Remus replied, ‘You’ll fall asleep and then -’ he paused, ‘When you wake up, it'll all be over.’
‘Ok,’ Harry said again, looking to Sirius once more, who nodded back at him, unable to speak. ‘Ok,’ he said again, closing his eyes and exhaling as he unstoppered the bottle, keeping them closed as he poured the potion down his throat.
The effect was immediate, Sirius catching him as he fell backwards, laying him carefully on the table, his head cushioned by a conjured pillow. Snape caught the vial deftly as it fell from Harry’s hand, and placed it back on his table
‘Alright,’ Remus said, ‘Alright, let's get back over here - and - just -’ he broke off, not wanting to admit how much of their plan was based on blind hope. Not wanting to say the word ‘wait’. ‘Sirius,’ he said again, tugging at his sleeve, come on, we need to stay out of the way, just in case.’
They backed towards the fireplace, Snape joining them. Remus cast a shield charm around them, and found Sirius’ hand. Squeezing it hard.
‘Nothing’s happening,’ Sirius said after a moment, ‘It hasn't worked. We should wake him up. We’ll have to try something else.’
He made to move, dropping Remus’ hand and raising his wand to release the shield when Harry made a noise, a strange choking sound, his back arching slightly off the table. Sirius froze, hands moving to grip the back of a chair.
‘What’s happening?’ he said, hoarsely.
Harry coughed again, his whole body moving with the effort of it and Sirius took a step forward, Remus catching hold of his upper arm, holding him back, trying to urge him to wait, trying to make himself wait, trying to ignore the overwhelming instinct to release the shield and wrap the Harry in his arms, free him from whatever awful thing seemed to be happening.
‘Did that happen when I - what’s happening? Let go!’ Sirius said, pulling his arm roughly, and turning back to Remus, his eyes blazing, filled with betrayal. ‘Get off me!’
Harry was shaking now, his elbows and feet thumping against the oak. Sirius clawed at Remus’ hand, trying to release his grip, shoving him with his free arm when he failed.
‘Something is happening,’ Snape said, suddenly, drawing their attention back to the boy, ‘Look -’
Harry’s eyes were open now, cloudy and unblinking, staring at the ceiling as his body trembled. His hair had fallen back from his forehead and Remus could see that his scar, stark and red against his pale face, seemed to be growing, moving downwards, creeping past his brow and down towards his cheek -
‘LET ME GO!’ Sirius shouted, fighting properly now, raising his wand. Remus pulled him backwards, wrapping his whole arm across his chest -
A high pitched scream filled the room and Remus almost let go in shock, wincing in pain as the noise intensified and the pitch rose. He pressed his forehead against Sirius’ back, trying to block it out somehow, but needing both his hands to restrain the other man. He could feel the vibration of Sirius’ shouts moving through his body, entirely drowned out by the noise. He forced his head up, desperate to see what was happening and found Harry suddenly still, eyes closed again, his face disturbingly serene in the midst of the chaos. Sirius’ faltered at the sight of Harry motionless again on the table, and Remus was able to strengthen his grip, pulling him back against his chest, feeling his panic in his uneven breathing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Snape move, his wand hand shaking as he raised it. The sword on the table wobbled violently and fell, clanging sharply on the floor. The screaming stopped.
Sirius stilled in his arms, and Remus turned to Snape, whose wand remained raised, his gaze trained on the sword.
‘What did you do?’ he demanded.
Distracted, Remus loosened his grip and Sirius pushed away from him, darting across the room, reaching Harry's side in seconds. Hand on his chest.
‘What did you do?!’ Remus said again, raising his own wand as Snape continued to ignore him.
There was a loud hiss and the sword at Sirius' feet rattled against its hilt, the metal loud against the flagstones. Sirius jumped away from it, pulling Harry with him to the other side of the table, looking back at Remus, and then to Snape. The sword banged again, the hiss growing louder for a moment, and then dulling, like air slowly escaping from a balloon until -
The silence rang out across the room, all three men frozen in place, eyes on the great sword which lay visible unchanged, rubies sparkling, on the dirty pub floor. Sirius moved first, rummaging through Snape's potion-box for a bottle of the antidote, which he poured, without hesitation, straight down Harry's throat, cradling the boy's head in his arms. Remus found his feet came unstuck then, and he moved too, stepping around the sword and standing at Sirius' side, eyes fixed on Harry's sleeping face, his breath tight in his chest.
Minutes passed, and then, finally, finally, Harry opened his eyes, Sirius releasing a horrible sob, which crashed from his mouth and clutched at Remus' heart. He lifted Harry, pulling him up by the shoulders, holding him tightly.
He looked up at them, green eyes contrasted starkly by the red of his enlarged scar. ‘Did it work?’
‘It worked,’ Snape said, quietly from across the room, holding out his arm, sleeve pulled back to his elbow.